General Cycling Discussion - oddservations

new awareness #1 - the outlet for the exhaust on the majority of automobiles on the road in America seems to be on the passenger side, the same side I'm on when cycling.

<hack; cough; expel a lung>

Why is that?

Thread, I am undergoing a metamorphosis: I believe I should ride with the cars without restrictions. But I'm getting a bit fed-up
with the stink of those crates.

I'm taking the high road more and more.

:D

I've noticed that the exhaust is on the opposite side to the petrol cap. That's probably a lay-out issue. Generally the petrol cap is on the drivers side. Presumably that's so that the driver remembers it more easily or something?

Anyway, I had also assumed that most cars dumped their exhaust on the pavement here because we're in the minority that drive on the left, and manufacturers couldn't be bothered to redesign that part of the car. But if it's true in the States as well that assumption must be wrong!

Ellie

but in the UK, most UK built busses dump their diesel exhaust at small dog/child in push chair level on the curb side.


This is just thoughtless design, and worse still, most people dont even recognise it as a problem, health risk or design flaw

When living in Zimbabwe, where driving is on the left side (like the UK) my father and I built a car - low roadster like the Lotus 7.

In order to get it licensed, we were obliged to route the exhause along the drivers side (right side) of the car.

I presume this was because the exhaust was external to the car there was a risk of burning the peds with it.

But not necessarilly related to the emission of the exhaust gasses.

Stew

ugh, try riding behind the University School buses here. Everytime the take off from a start, they expel a large plume of smoke. I thought it was bad enough in a car!

Im sure modern diesels dont have to be so dirty, they are just using very old engines.
In Canada there have been successful trials of fuel cell buses. I know they need to generate the hydrogen from somewhere, but there are no toxic emmisions at the bus. Even liquified natural gas fuel is a whole lot cleaner in converted diesel engines.
All it needs is some government money to kick start the market for a whole bunch of short range utility vehicles with central depots. They all refuel at the depot so there are none of the problems faced by private motorists with new fuels.

Originally posted by Ellie
I've noticed that the exhaust is on the opposite side to the petrol cap. ...

Ellie

That's a very good "oddservation", wouldn't want to risk dumping gasoline on a hot exhaust pipe. Lord knows you see enough people without enough common sense to turn off their engines while refueling!

Originally posted by MichaelW
Im sure modern diesels dont have to be so dirty, they are just using very old engines.
In Canada there have been successful trials of fuel cell buses. I know they need to generate the hydrogen from somewhere, but there are no toxic emmisions at the bus. Even liquified natural gas fuel is a whole lot cleaner in converted diesel engines.
All it needs is some government money to kick start the market for a whole bunch of short range utility vehicles with central depots. They all refuel at the depot so there are none of the problems faced by private motorists with new fuels.
I have always said that alternate power sources can be implemented. Where there is a will, there is a way. Then again, necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps we are waiting for something?

In Atlanta, we have some natural gas (CNG) powered buses. These CNG's also have verticle exhaust pipes, like trucks, so the exhaust is released above the bus, not in your face.

Since buses spend so much time idling, cleaner fuels are essential.

(Fuel cells are interesting technology.)

It's not always true. My girlfriend's car has it's exhaust and filler on the same side.

Originally posted by Ellie
Generally the petrol cap is on the drivers side. Presumably that's so that the driver remembers it more easily or something?
Off topic factoid: In most US passenger cars, the gas fill is on the passenger side. The reason given is that if you run out of gas on the road, you re-fuel from the non-traffic side.

I'm sure with fuel cell technology, in 10 or 15 years cars and buses will be spewing harmless Oxygen and water vapour directly on cyclists as they ride by :)

The auto companies are all working on this technology, one of them (Daimler-Chrysler?) has bought a large chunk of Ballard Technology in Vancouver. Ballard is the company that has come up with a lot of the fuel cell advances and the trial buses.

Originally posted by pinerider
I'm sure with fuel cell technology, in 10 or 15 years cars and buses will be spewing harmless Oxygen and water vapour directly on cyclists as they ride by :)

The auto companies are all working on this technology, one of them (Daimler-Chrysler?) has bought a large chunk of Ballard Technology in Vancouver. Ballard is the company that has come up with a lot of the fuel cell advances and the trial buses. WHOOOOHOOOO let's hope they can push up the time table a bit.

Originally posted by MichaelW
In Canada there have been successful trials of fuel cell buses. I know they need to generate the hydrogen from somewhere, but there are no toxic emmisions at the bus. The thing is there no one wants to invest in thoe fuel cells - the big guys don't want to loose their income from oil.